Chesterfield crash driver is banned

Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Published:10:00Saturday 20 December 2014

A motorist who crashed into two walls and drove off failing to report the accident has been banned from driving.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Friday, December 19, how Terry Watson, 32, of Martin’s Lane, Old Tupton, Chesterfield, collided with the garden walls at two homes on Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, and drove away without reporting the accident.

Prosecuting solicitor John Cooper said: “A Nissan Navara was driving to Chesterfield town centre when it collided with the brick walls, caused damage and drove off.

“Police contacted the vehicle’s registered keeper address and officers left details for the defendant to make contact but this was not done.”

Mr Cooper claimed further police visits and a letter were also ignored by Watson.

Watson pleaded guilty to being in an accident in August which caused damage, failing to report the accident and driving without due care and attention.

Defence solicitor Robert Sowter said Watson had been working late to fulfil a customer order and had then driven towards Chesterfield town centre to get food.

Mr Sowter said: “He accepts he mounted a pavement and hit a garden wall or a set of garden walls.

“He tried calling the police on 101 but then gave up.

“It’s not accepted fully that there were attempts to contact him and he said he had tried to contact police on 101 several times.

“When police also attended his address later he was loading his van to go to work and didn’t see the sense in going for a police interview because he was going to plead guilty in court anyway.”

The court heard how Watson is father and the sole carer of a four-year-old daughter and losing his driving licence will create child care difficulties.

Magistrates disqualified Watson from driving for six months, fined him £550 and ordered him to pay £35 costs and a £55 victim surcharge.